Battery pack with built in communication port

Abstract

A system and method for providing a communication port integral with a battery pack assembly is disclosed. The system provides a pathway between an external unit and a host unit via a printed circuit board of the battery pack. The battery pack can include communication ports mounted on the printed circuit board for interfacing with external units. The printed circuit board further includes a substrate(s) formed with a predetermined wiring pattern electrically and/or mechanically joined to the CPU of the host unit, as well as the battery cell(s).

1. A mobile terminal comprising:
 a bar code reader; 
 a battery pack compartment that accepts a battery pack assembly including a communication port integral therewith; and 
 a CPU that recognizes the communication port of the battery pack assembly. 
 
     
     
       2. The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , the battery pack compartment comprising a set of interface connector leads that operatively couple the mobile terminal to the battery pack assembly. 
     
     
       3. The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , the CPU discovers an external device attached at the communication port. 
     
     
       4. The mobile terminal of  claim 3  further comprising an input device that provides a plurality of functions that control the execution of the CPU and the discovered external device. 
     
     
       5. The mobile terminal of  claim 2 , power is provided to the mobile terminal via the interface connector leads. 
     
     
       6. The mobile terminal of  claim 3 , the CPU receives a signal from the external device via a communication link with the interface connector leads. 
     
     
       7. The mobile terminal of  claim 1  further comprising a radio frequency subsystem, the radio frequency subsystem comprises a radio frequency receiver and a radio frequency transmitter for receiving and transmitting radio frequency transmissions. 
     
     
       8. The mobile terminal of  claim 1  further comprising a supplemental power source providing power to the mobile terminal in the event that the battery pack assembly disconnects or fails. 
     
     
       9. The mobile terminal of  claim 8 , the supplemental power source is a super capacitor.